Device for liquid processing

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for the processing of photographic material in which the material is mounted arcuately in a tubular carrier which is horizontally disposed, charged in its lower portion with processing liquid, and rotated about its longitudinal axis while at the same time being oscillated in the direction of that axis. In the apparatus the carrier rests on a base with an interengagable cam and follower on the carrier and on the base to oscillate the carrier when it is rotated.

United States Patent 1191 Ratowsky Sept. 16, 1975 DEVICE FOR LIQUID PROCESSING 1,916,207 7 1933 De Francisco et al 354/328 2,519,337 8/1950 Alberts et a]. 354/329 X [75] Ramwsky Dwnswew, 3,705,544 12 1972 Ratowsky 354 329 x Canada 3,735,961 5/1973 Taylor 354/330 x [73] Assignee: Monrick Holdings Limited, I I

v Downview, Canada Primary ExaminerFred L. Braun 22 Filed: Dec. 26, 1973 21 App], N6; 427,798 1 ABSIRACT An apparatus for the processing of photographic material in which the material is mounted arcuately in a 2? 5 1 53 tubular carrier which is horizontally disposed, charged 'f 35 4 97 2 in its lower portion with processing liquid, and rotated 1 o 4 81 about its longitudinal axis while at the same time being oscillated in the direction of that axis. In the apparatus the carrier rests on a base with an interengagable cam [56] References and and follower on the carrier and on the base to oscillate UNITED STATES PATENTS the carrier when it is rotated.

520,205 5/1894 Heyligenstaedt 259/81 R X i 1,413,651- 4 1922 Burnett 259 91 8 Clalms, 5 Drawmg Figures f DEYICEZFORLIQUID PROCESSING" I This invention relates-to the pro'c'essin'g' of photo graphic material'iii sheet or roll forn'i. t

To reduce'the quantity ofliquid .-chemicals:used% in processing photographic material rotatable containers or carriers ar'e employed instead ofidishes or tanks. Such carriers are tubular. andqcarr-y the photographic material arcuately within them. A small quantity, of liq uid chemical is introduced intothe carrier which is disposed horizontally and rotated aboutitslongitudinal axis, allowing the lliquidto contactgallpartsaof the .pho; tographic material, asseenin U.S. PatnNo. 2,947.236 issued Aug; 2, l96 to, H. SiegeLTo obtain increased flow the drum may be rocked vertically as shown for examplehin U SHPat. No. 3,668,997 issued June ,13, I972 .to. .S. Ratowsky assignor to Monrick "Holdings Limi d. f

New ypfi s f photographic"paper recently introduced to the marheg suchas resin coated orpla stic pael i minate stop baths and require increased but rel ativ'elyeven flow or agitation of liquid chemicaliwith'in the carrier to prevent stains but the amount of agitation must be selective.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and device for processing photographic material in a carrier by oscillating a horizontally disposed tubular carrier in the direction of its longitudinal axis as the carrier rotates about that axis.

Example embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a base and a carrier;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the base of the device of FIG. 1 and a side view of the carrier in one extreme position of horizontal travel on the base;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the carrier in the other extreme position of horizontal travel;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing an alternate embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing still another alternate embodiment of the invention.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. I to 3 of the drawings comprises a base having a rectangular housing 12 including a pair of upstanding parallel shoulders 14.

and 16 which are spaced apart with outwardly sloping opposed sides 17 to form a trough 18 having a flat bottom 19. A spaced pair of drive wheels 20 are keyed on a drive shaft 22 which is located Within shoulder 16 and is driven by an electric motor 23 also located in shoulder 16. Motor 23 is connectable by a line 24 to a source of electric current and is actuated by a switch 25. A segment of each drive wheel 20 projects normally from side 17 of shoulder 16 into trough 18. A spaced pair of idler wheels 26 are keyed on an idler shaft 28 which is journally mounted Within shoulder 14. A segment of each idler wheel 26 also projects normally from side 17 to shoulder 14 into trough 18. A follower or guide roller 30 is journally mounted on bottom 19 of trough 18.

A carrier receivable in trough 18 comprises a cylindrical drum 42 with a removable end cap 44 which closes the drum to receive liquid processing chemicals through a spout 46 when photographic sheet material has been placed arcuately in the drum. A raised band 48 girdles the central portion of drum 42 and carries a track or groove 50 circumscribing the drum in a plane which is oblique to the drum axis. Band 48 is positioned on drum 42 to have guide roller 30 located in groove 50 when thedrum rests-on wheels 20;-and Roller 30 and groove 50 comprise interengaging means between carrier'40 and base 10.--

-3 *lrithe operationofthe device carrier 40 is loaded by placing photographic *sheet material arcuatel'ywwithin 'd'rurn- 42, placing end cap 44 on the drum, and charging the drum Withliquid photographic chemical through spout 4 61" Carrier '40 is then placedhorizontally in trough 18hr base 10 to ride on wheels 20 'and26 with guide roller 30 positioned ingroove 50 0f band'48. When'carrier 40 is in this position; motor 23 "is started byswitch 25 whe'ri line 24is"pluggedintoia source af electrical IVlotoi 23 rotates shaft 22 which rotatesf dri v e wheels'"'20, turning drii iii IfZ bn'its' axisL'As carrier 40'r'otates; guide roller 30 travels along" groove 50. Sinceband 48' is fixed oh drain fiz-aha uid rollr so, is fixe'd ii'l bottom 19- of h tiSih- 1 2, the rotation of carrier 40 causes it to'move horizoptally'fi rst in one dileCtlOn and then in the opposite' direc'tion as seen in FIGS 2 and 3, sliding transverselyion 20 and 26.

This horizontal sinusoidal oscillation bar es the liqui chemical in carrier 40 to move longitudinally along drum42 and over the sheet of photographic material within the carrier. The speed of rotation of carrier 40 may be made variable by suitable rheostat means to obtain an optimum longitudinal movement of the liquid chemical in the carrier. i

It will be appreciated that various modifications to the example embodiment could be made within the concept of the invention. For example carriers 40 of differing diameters could be accommodated in trough 18 of base 10 by adjusting the position of idler wheels 26 and/or the height of guide rollers 30 or 62 above bottom 19 of the trough. The obliquity of groove 50 or ridge 60 could be altered to change the amplitude or length of oscillatory travel of carrier 40 along its axis, for instance by having band 48 or ridge 60 removably mounted on drum 42 for replacement. Of course groove 50 could be located in the wall of drum 42.

In the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 4 a circumscribing ridge 60 on drum 42 of carrier 40 is engaged between a pair of spaced followers or guide rollers 62 journally mounted on bottom 19 of trough 18. Ridge 60 lies in a plane which is oblique to the longitudinal axis of drum 42 and the contact face of each roller 62 is sloped accordingly. The operation of this alternate embodiment is the same as that described for the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3.

In the further embodiment shown in FIG. 5 a circumscribing rib on drum 42 lies'in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of drum 42 and is engaged in a groove 72 circumscribing a cylindrical follower or spool 74 rotatably mounted on base 10. Groove 72 lies in a plane oblique to the rotational axis of spool 74 which lies parallel to the longitudinal axis of drum 42 when carrier 40 is mounted on base 10. In this modification the frequency and amplitude of oscillation of carrier 40 would be governed by the diameter of spool 74 and the obliquity of groove 72. If desired, spool 74 could be driven to rotate carrier 40.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for processing photographic material in sheet or roll form, comprising:

a tubular carrier constructed and arranged to hold the photographic material arcuately therein and to hold liquid in the lower portion of the carrier when v3 the-longitudinal axis of the carrier is disposed horizontally; a x a base constructed and arranged to support the car- 'rier rotatably on said longitudinal axis when horizontally disposed thereon; and

i meanson the carrier and on the base engagable with groove is located in a band frictionally engaging the carrier and removablethercfrom.

L 4, Apparatus as claimed in,claim 1 in which the base includ es roller means to support the carrier and means to drive the roller means to rotate the carrier resting thereon.

5; Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the base comprises ahousing having an external, upwardly opening trough with outwardly diverging sides. the roller means projecting from the sides of the trough and the drive means being'mounted in the housing.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the roller means comprises a pair of spaced idler rollers projecting from one side of the trough and a pair of spaced drive rollers projecting from the other side of the trough.

7. Apparatus asclaimed in claim I in which the means on the carrier comprises a cireumscribing rib lying in a plane oblique to the longitudinal axis of the carrier and the means on the base comprises rotatable follower means, the rib being receivable by the follower means.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim l in which the means on the carrier comprises a eircumseribing rib lying in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the carrier and the means on the base comprises rotatable cylindrical follower means, the rib being receivable-in an circumferential groove in the follower means lying in a plane oblique to the rotational axis thereof. 

1. Apparatus for processing photographic material in sheet or roll form, comprising: a tubular carrier constructed and arranged to hold the photographic material arcuately therein and to hold liquid in the lower portion of the carrier when the longitudinal axis of the carrier is disposed horizontally; a base consTructed and arranged to support the carrier rotatably on said longitudinal axis when horizontally disposed thereon; and means on the carrier and on the base engagable with each other when the carrier is supported on the base to oscillate the carrier in the direction of said longitudinal axis when the carrier is rotated.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means on the carrier comprises a circumscribing groove lying in a plane oblique to the longitudinal axis of the carrier and the means on the base comprises a guide element mounted in fixed location thereon, the guide element being receivable in the groove and movable along the groove when the carrier is rotated.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the groove is located in a band frictionally engaging the carrier and removable therefrom.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the base includes roller means to support the carrier and means to drive the roller means to rotate the carrier resting thereon.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the base comprises a housing having an external, upwardly opening trough with outwardly diverging sides, the roller means projecting from the sides of the trough and the drive means being mounted in the housing.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the roller means comprises a pair of spaced idler rollers projecting from one side of the trough and a pair of spaced drive rollers projecting from the other side of the trough.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means on the carrier comprises a circumscribing rib lying in a plane oblique to the longitudinal axis of the carrier and the means on the base comprises rotatable follower means, the rib being receivable by the follower means.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means on the carrier comprises a circumscribing rib lying in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the carrier and the means on the base comprises rotatable cylindrical follower means, the rib being receivable in an circumferential groove in the follower means lying in a plane oblique to the rotational axis thereof. 